Ruquet Omaha Beach

 

"On 6th June, at around 10am, hundreds of men were stuck on this beach amongst the destroyed landing crafts. In front of them was the small Ruquet Valley, protected by two fortified points. Today, all that is visible is one large gun in its blockhouse. It was hit by fire from an approaching vessel 1km away, and was destroyed for good by a "half-track".

 

The US Engineers immediately opened this road towards the plateau, and at around 3pm, the heavy U S equipment took this first and only, cleared exit from the Omaha site.

 

The 1st Division "Big Red One" used the blockhouse as a command post and soon, thousands of GIs took this road to liberty.

 

The Engineers continued their work. They quickly built the artificial harbour and, on the plateau, an airfield, which allowed the evacuation of 11,030 injured men in June and July 1944."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe White: Photographic Collection

 

www.joe-white.co.uk

 

Email: joseph.white@btinternet.com